Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is setting the stage to run for governor of Georgia, a state that has emerged as a crucial battleground in recent elections. Bottoms, who served in former President Joe Biden’s administration, filed paperwork on Monday to begin raising campaign donations for the 2026 race. While she hasn’t yet officially announced her candidacy, Bottoms made it clear that her move to establish a campaign committee is a key step in the process.
“I am honored and humbled by the encouragement I have received as I have considered running for Governor. I am taking an important administrative step in this journey by filing necessary paperwork to establish a Campaign Committee,” Bottoms said in a statement. “I look forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks.”
Bottoms Could Become Georgia’s First Black Woman Governor
If she runs, Bottoms would immediately become the most prominent Democrat in the race, joining the growing field of candidates vying for the open seat. Jason Esteves, a Georgia state senator, declared his candidacy just last week, while two high-profile Democratic figures have already opted out. Rep. Lucy McBath, a four-term lawmaker, suspended her campaign for governor in March following her husband’s cancer diagnosis. Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter and the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, also announced he would not be running.
Georgia’s current Republican governor, Brian Kemp, is term-limited, and the race for his seat is expected to be highly competitive. The Cook Political Report has labeled the race as a tossup, highlighting its importance in the national political landscape. If Bottoms wins, Georgia would be led by a Democrat for the first time since 2003, and she would make history as the first-ever Black woman governor in U.S. history.
Bottoms’ Leadership Experience and Biden Administration Role
Bottoms served as the mayor of Atlanta from 2018 to 2022, navigating several crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a city-wide cyberattack during her first months in office. Her tenure as mayor, marked by these challenges, garnered national attention and solidified her reputation as a leader capable of managing crises. In addition to her time as mayor, she was considered as a potential running mate for Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
After her tenure as mayor, Bottoms was appointed by President Biden to oversee the White House Office of Public Engagement in June 2022, further solidifying her role as a key figure in national politics.
As she prepares to make her formal announcement, her candidacy is expected to reshape Georgia’s political race, potentially setting the stage for a historic shift in the state’s leadership.
